Oil Companies International Marine Forum (Ocimf), London, has revised its Ship Inspection Report (SIRE) system in a bid to standardize report formats and to reduce duplication of oil tanker inspections.
SIRE, launched in November 1993, enabled Ocimf members to circulate reports of inspections on tankers they chartered. The aim was to improve tanker safety and pollution standards (OGJ, Oct. 18, 1993, p. 23).
Ocimf has converted SIRE to a software package to enable inspectors to complete an assessment of tankers on a lap top computer.
This will standardize the format of submitted reports and allow circulation of reports by modem, rather than by fax as at present. The new system will be introduced in mid-May, and there will be a 6-month transition period.
Capt. David Savage, manager of the SIRE program, said: "Diversity of presentation has been detrimental to the efficient use of SIRE. Also, we wanted to prevent repeated collection of data by inspectors. This data will be collected by tanker operators instead."
New procedures
Now, a ship inspector will be required to complete a vessel inspection questionnaire, which will be circulated by Ocimf members through SIRE. Also, vessel particulars' questionnaires will be completed by operators.
"Ship owners will be responsible for accurate information of vessel particulars," said Savage. "This will be an optional part of SIRE, reducing inspectors' need for repeated measurement."
Operators will be able to update their own reports, and their data will be protected by means of password entry to the updating systems. Operators benefit by having data on their vessels available for charterers, and will no longer have to complete a new questionnaire for each charter.
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